The International Institute for Iranian Studies (Rasanah) has issued the Iran Case File (ICF) for February 2022, providing readers in general and researchers in particular with an in-depth review of Iran’s affairs during this month, offering a comprehensive assessment of key Iranian developments and interactions at various levels. The ICF is divided into three parts: Internal Affairs, Arab Affairs, and International Affairs.
Internal Affairs is divided into four main files. The Ideological File discusses the relationship between religion and politics. The Political File reviews three topics: accusations against the government and Parliament that they are the weakest in the history of the Iranian republic; lawsuits against the supreme leader, former President Hassan Rouhani over their management of the coronavirus pandemic and other corruption cases related to the Ministry of Labor. The Economic File discusses the nature of Iran’s economic relations with Russia and Ukraine and the ramifications of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on Iran. The Military File sheds lights on three prominent developments: the attacks carried out by Iran-based militias on Pakistan’s border guards; the Russian invasion of Ukraine and how it has dashed Iran’s hopes for sanctions relief; and the spike in the possession of weapons among civilians and the consequent security concerns.
Arab Affairs is divided into four main files. Iran and the Gulf States discusses the tensions between Iran and the Gulf states in energy markets and its impact on bolstering the Gulf states’ role with the United States; Iran’s activities in the UAE occupied islands. The second file reviews Iran’s relations with the Houthis in Yemen, discussing the implications of the UN Security Council designation of Yemen’s Houthis as a “terrorist group;” the divergence between Iran’s and the UN’s position; the possible ramifications of the UN Security Council resolution on Yemen. The third file touches on Iran-Iraq relations, exploring three main issues: the political deadlock in Iraq and the implications for Iran, Iran’s failure in bridging the rift between the Iraqi Shiites, Iran’s pressure on Sadr to form a government including Maliki. The fourth file analyzes the profit-loss equation in Syria against the backdrop of the Ukraine crisis and reviews Iran’s efforts to entrench its administrative presence in Syria.
International Affairs reviews Iran’s interactions with the United States and Europe. It discusses Iran-US relations through analyzing four main developments: the progress in the nuclear talks; the declining impact of US sanctions; the unresolved thorny issues; and the future implications and outcomes. It also touches on Iran-Europe relations, reviewing the most prominent interactions; the course of nuclear negotiations in Vienna in light of Iran’s relations with the Europeans; Iran’s blistering condemnation of the people’s tribunal established in London; finally, the calls by the European Parliament to halt the death penalty in Iran.
